PAD 10 deal

The Lord said,

“I’ll take your sins, cares and burdens

and give you eternal life

if you follow me.”

I said, “Deal!”

PAD 10 deal

Happy Birthday, Eli

Thirty-four years ago today

I made a deal with a chubby-faced baby,

To love him no matter what.

Still keeping my end of the bargain.

PAD 10 deal

Caregiving

There are such things as odd jobs

Then there are jobs that are odd,

Peculiar situations.

My deal’s the latter.

PAD 9 Battle

Battle of the Morning

When I wake up in the morning

the battle begins between my ears.

My lazy self fights with my busy self.

I deserve to sleep a little longer, but

there are things to do, places to go,

people to see, projects to catch up on.

But they can wait a while, can’t they?

We’re human beings not doings after all.

Eventually the busy self wins but then

the lazy self starts in about a long nap.

PAD 9 Battle, Dizain

Battlefield of Gettysburg

We walked across what once was field of blood,

But now transformed to lovely park-like place.

Where men lay scattered dying in the mud

And sorrow passed on every tortured face.

They died to save a nation from disgrace.

The grassy field now serves to teach and warn,

Where bravery reigned and legends were born.

Their shouts and groans echo down through the years.

The loss of life this nation still may mourn.

Now we remember only ghosts of tears.

PAD 9 Battles diminishing verse

Battles

Many battles come from fright

It’s hard to tell who is right

Sometimes causes are like twins

It’s not so important who wins

The question is, “What’s at stake?”

What from the loser will the winner take?

Where have both sides agreed?

Understand, it’s not always greed.

But both sides cling to what is dear.

It’s important to give ear.

PAD 8 family

Families

with forms of dysfunction

know how to forge

through their fears and fiascos

to function with faults and failures

long enough to have a future.

PAD 8 family

The Beginning

I love the picture

of Mom and Dad,

newly married,

standing in a barren field

which is now grown into a forest.

He freshly out of WWII

wears a leather jacket

and cuffed pants of the forties.

She wears a knee-length coat

just short enough

to show off those legs

that once won a contest

in high school.

They both look so happy

arms around each other,

on the threshold

of having five daughters,

many grandchildren,

and greats thereafter.

The field

wasn’t the only thing

that flourished.

PAD 8 family

Family

F riends or enemies

A mple time to get to know each other

M ay as well be friends

I nterdependent

L ots of love and laughter

Y et some tears. Family puts up with each other.

PAD 7 senses

Lilacs

The smell of lilacs

reminds me of the ones

in Pappap’s yard

When we ran

barefoot all summer

through PA trees and hills

Waded in the cold creek

Cartwheeled in Pappap’s yard

Ate watermelon and spit seeds

Pretended we were characters

In old TV shows: Batman

Gilligan’s Island, Man from Uncle

Walked on stilts

Played croquet

Rolled around in tractor tires

It’s no wonder

When I smell lilacs

I want to run, jump and play

PAD 7 senses, descort

Descort Poem

The Descort Poem

is like a song

a little bit off key.

 It jingle, jangles back and forth

At times smooth

At times choppy

It’s not the poem

for…

this poet.

PAD 7 senses, Decima

Scottish Highland Scene

White cottage rests in earthtone grass
Alone except for company
Of a large bush about as big
Together sit at mountain base
With last snow on its side like lace
In foreground runs a little stream
The ice in it appears agleam
Background reveals a faded ridge
On it the snow lies, just a smidge
The little sky shows shade of cream 

PAD 6 food

Uncle Jim’s Spaghetti

Uncle Jim, a big, burly truck driver

loved to cook, especially spaghetti.

He’d rent out the town fire hall,

invite the abundance of relatives

and we cousins would spend the day

chasing each other around the hall,

eating spaghetti and being warned

off the fire truck and ambulance.

Everyone agreed that no one made

spaghetti as good as Uncle Jim’s.

PAD 6 food, Cywydd Llosgyrnog

Turmeric on Rice

My mom put turmeric on rice.

Bright yellow made the dish look nice.

I had to look twice at school,

At lunch, when rice looked pale and white

Like someone had died in the night.

Pale rice wasn’t right or cool.

PAD 6 food, Cyrch A Chwta

M & M’s with Peanuts

M & M’s are my delight.

Ones with peanuts are just right.

Come in colors, soft or bright.

In a bowl, they do invite.

Love them all, from the first bite.

Taste buds, M & M’s excite.

Wonderful to the last crumb.

Wish that they would come in lite.

PAD 5 intelligence, Curtal Sonnet

Smart People

It takes lots more than being smart to thrive.

Smart people can do stupid things at times.

“Common sense is not so common.” –Voltaire.

It takes a little wisdom to survive.

And even eating the proper enzymes.

Critical thinkers may take better care

than people with higher intelligence.

But studies show they both commit less crimes.

Smart folks can do stupid things unaware.

They often perform acts that make no sense.

Beware!

PAD 5 intelligence

My Son

His vocabulary zoomed past his mom’s.

He figures out his math in his head.

He comes up with new inventions.

He learned Hindi from movies.

Thinks about time travel

and quantum physics.

It frustrates me

he works for

Pizza

Hut.

Contrapuntal (combine two poems)

Warm smiles, helping hands

“Tell me more about yourself”

Friendly Scottish folks

Scotland

Above cliffs

Seabirds fly

Into mist

Gray castle

Clouds hover

Loch mirrors

Snug inlet

Old boats bob

Hotels serve

             

Scotland

Above cliffs

Seabirds fly

Into mist

Gray castle

Clouds hover

Loch mirrors

Snug inlet

Old boats bob

Hotels serve

Friendly folks

Helping hands

Warm greetings

PAD 4 case , concrete

            yes

         o      o

I can’t wait till May

when                   I

pack                  my

suit                  case

And  fly  to  Ireland.

PAD 4 Case blank, Gnomes Pantoum

Case of Being Sedentary

I’d like to bounce on trampoline.

And sprint the pathway of the park.

And pump my arms, till lithe and lean.

And swing and sway and dance till dark.

And sprint the pathway of the park?

No, now it’s good if we just walk.

And swing and sway and dance till dark?

No, we just watch TV and talk.

No, now it’s good if we just walk.

We plan to do more, maybe soon.

No, we just watch TV and talk.

Perhaps we’ll get out after noon.

We plan to do more, maybe soon.

When things slow down and we’ve more time.

Perhaps we’ll get out after noon.

But now I’m finishing this rhyme.

I’d like to bounce on trampoline

And run a marathon or two

And pump my arms, till lithe and lean.

Well now, at least, my poem is through.

PAD 4 Case blank, Gnomes Street last extreme mind fantasy nocturne pressure

Case of Missing You

Walking down first street

after the stores and offices closed.

Feeling like I’ve fallen in a fantasy

where everyone disappeared.

Remembering, the last time you were here.

We watched a movie, the third of the series.

I’ve never watched the second yet.

It was extreme weather that evening.

We crunched through snow and cold wind.

to get to the theatre.

A nocturne now passes through my mind.

The mystical theme song.

No pressure.

But I haven’t seen you for a while.

PAD 3 Stop Gnomes Vilanelle

Don’t Stop

Don’t stop doing the good that you do.
The Golden Rule is the better way.

Just keep it up the whole way through.

To build a better world, kindness is the glue.
Lend a helping hand every day.
Don’t stop doing the good that you do.

You’ll see from a brighter point of view.
When you get tired, remember to pray.
Just keep it up the whole way through.

Reach out to ones who are feeling blue.
Think of encouraging words to say.
Don’t stop doing the good that you do.

Flowers are nice, a small gift, too.
Sincere compliments go a long way.
Just keep it up the whole way through.

Let your blessing be many, your sorrows few.
What goes around comes around, they say.
Don’t stop doing the good that you do.
Just keep it up the whole way through.

PAD 3 stop Clogyrnach

Who Knew?

Once Mom started, she couldn’t stop.

Who knew she’d love the bunny hop?

She danced through the night.

Well, into daylight.

Quite a sight.

Just ask Pop.

PAD 3 Stop

Stop

S top the stinkin’ thinkin’.

T oday, do a u-turn.

O pen your mind to the good that you do and go through the day with a smile. Cease

P ounding on yourself with words. Yield your criticism with a prayer of thanksgiving.

PAD 2 Portrait

Edna

Mother-in-law

Elbows rest on chair arms

Gray curls, honest eyes, content smile

Miss her

PAD 2 portrait, Gnomes Clarihew

His name is Ducky.

Smart and plucky.

But seniors keep squawkin’

“Illya Kuriakin!”

Chant

Thank You, Lord

For the sun and wind, water and bread

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things

For laughter and sunshine and the deep blue sea

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things.

For forests and valleys and mountain spring flowers

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things

For rain and buttercups and mud puddles to splash in

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things.

For favorite foods and warm, cozy homes

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things

For our friends and family and encouraging words

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things

For answering prayer and knowing our hair count

Thank You, Lord, giver of all good things

PAD 1 Secret

Darla’s Secret

I was twelve, my cousin eight

when we were playing

on Pappap’s porch.

I’d swing her off.

She’d get back up

and we’d do it again.

But one time

she landed wrong

and hurt her arm.

I was afraid

I’d get in trouble.

I told her not to tell anyone.

As far as I know, she never did.

Darla, you can tell now.                 

PAD 1 secret, Gnomes monorhyme

Your Secret

This is your secret, I won’t tell.

I tell you clearly as a bell.

I will not spread it on my cell.

I am where secrets stop to dwell.

Your secrets, I won’t share or sell.

They’re safe with me, yes, all is well.

Oh, I slipped up, now, please don’t yell!

PAD 1 Secret

Hidden Secret

Hidden secrets

In poetry, throughout time.

Dangerous or epic

Daring or forthright or

End of each line  

Now, look to find the secret.